My Campaign Platform for President of Music

Election day 2008 is tomorrow and I would encourage each and every one of you to get out and vote. In fact, that’s good advice in EVERY election, not just the sexy one’s like the Presidential race. I’ll be voting tomorrow like I do every year and it got me to thinking, what if there were an election for Secretary of Music? Even better, what about President of Music – someone who could fight the injustices, right the wrongs, rock the (white) house? That sounds more like a super hero than a president, but whatever.

But, if there were a President of Music ruling over the entire music industry, this would be my campaign platform.

Stop the lawsuits.

I would immediately call for a cease and desist to all legal actions against users of Peer to Peer networks by the Recording Industry of America. These frivolous lawsuits clog our legal system and only serve to alienate the very people who support our industry. The RIAA should be using its power to support its customers, not fight them, and a good place to start is with lawsuits against music fans.

Lower the cost of MP3’s.

Amazon.com has undercut iTunes with lowered cost and no DRM. This model should continue. There is massive demand for recorded music, but only at the right price point. Eliminating costly physical distribution has saved the industry millions. Those savings should be passed on to fans. The truth is that the music industry is getting smaller, but that isn’t a bad thing. A leaner, more nimble music business can not only survive, but thrive with better customer relations and a more reasonably priced product.

Eliminate the exclusive artist arrangement with big box retailers.

Artists like the Eagles and AC/DC have turned to big box retailers for exclusive distribution of their music. This only further complicates the distribution chain and makes it more difficult for lesser known artists to receive distribution in the limited space allotted music in these stores. If big box retailers cannot expand shelf space to accommodate a wider range of artists, no artist should be willing to support them in their efforts through these exclusive distribution arrangements.

Abolish DRM.

DRM was never a good idea. It’s invasive and, most importantly, it doesn’t work. Music fans know how to get around it anyway and those that don’t find it to be cumbersome when trying to place their purchased songs on their own computers. I support a permanent ban on DRM.

Invest in BitTorrent technology.

When the MP3 was invented, the music industry failed to recognize this powerful technology that has revolutionized the way we listen to music. We should not repeat the mistakes of history. We should immediately invest in BitTorrent technology and begin a dialog with groups now considered “pirates” by the RIAA. Music fans and even artists have recognized the power of this technology and it is time those in power do the same and provide whatever resources are necessary to further the development of this exciting new music medium.

Return a greater percentage of profits to artists.

For many years, the artist has suffered through bad contracts with record labels. It is time for those days to be over. Artists, who create the music and who do the majority of the work, should reap the rewards for their efforts in the form of higher royalty percentages. Most artists have seen their income drop dramatically due to so-called illegal file trading. A more balanced approach to distribution and a bigger cut of the profits for artists would help balance those scales.

Promote live music.

With profits in recorded music down, live music and merchandising once again have become the backbone of an artist’s income. Live music venues and promoters should set reasonable standards for both artists and ticket buyers. There should be a cap on ticket fees and surcharges so that large companies don’t over-inflate the value of a concert ticket. Fans should be encouraged to not only go to shows, but to show their support through buying artist merchandise. Artists should seek alternate sources for live performances including house concerts, smaller festivals, television and webcasting. Large cities should promote the value of live original music both in their venues and through music festivals. Live music is the life blood of popular music and it needs a transfusion.

Demand diverse programming from radio.

Few things have been as devastating to the music industry as the wholesale homoginization of terrestrial radio. With regional and even national program directors in place, the airwaves have become home to the same 150-200 songs repeated over and over. This must end whether through a re-working of terrestrial radio, an overhaul of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, greater promotion of alternative radio sources or all of the above. A change is necessary to get people interested in music on the radio again. Music diversity – and promotion of unsigned artists – can be profitable and it is time the radio business took notice.

Support internet radio and podcasting.

The recent laws enacted to place royalty fees on internet radio stations are egregious and should rescinded. Internet radio and podcasting are yet another way for artists to reach their audience and yet they are treated like common criminals because they don’t have the power with the Federal Communications Commission the RIAA and large radio conglomerates have. In a country where support for innovation often seems high on the list of priorities when it comes to incentivizing business, this law does exactly the opposite.

Support music education programs.

Without the next generation of musicians learning and growing, music will die. It isn’t enough for a child to love music. He/She needs support and nurturing to bring their talents to fruition. Music education has gradually been eroded and is on the verge of extinction. It’s time to put music and the arts back in the classroom. Studies have shown that music improves concentration and actually makes kids better students. That’s good for everyone.

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Ok, so there is no President of Music, but I bet I’d have a shot with this platform, no?